The Making Hour .6

For this week’s Making Hour, we took a trip to the V&A Dundee as I had booked tickets for the Mary Quant exhibition.

Image from V&A Dundee website

The exhibition didn’t disappoint. It had so much there to look through I could have easily spent all day there getting inspired. The videos shown from throughout Quants rise to modern fashion symbol really gave an inside into the time. Seeing all the clothes, makeup and style alongside the cars made you wish you were there at the time. Someone who was there was my dad! A few weeks ago we were talking about the exhibition and he had so much knowledge and excitement for that era that straight away I got us tickets. Who better to go with than someone who had been part of that era. Also coming along with us was my son. Not going to lie it wasn’t easy going around an exhibition with a toddler who had just been woken from an accidental nap, but a bench rest for food followed by a search for “a blue dress like Thomas” (the tank engine) helped.

Mary Quant’s mind was not only great creatively but her creativity and vision expanded into business. There were a few points about mass production that I do wonder if she would believe the same now, but I feel that this may go for many designers at the time. As often their goal was getting good design to the many.

Being back in the city where I studied in this beautiful building and amazing exhibition of a pioneering female designer gave me that creative inspiration needed. You can’t leave without going through the gift shop right? Well the V&A Dundee gift shop is a destination in its self! Due to all the amazing designers in there, including Kerri Aldo and her new Dundee Raincoat. The design, finish and colour are outstanding!

The Dundee Raincoat by Keri Aldo, in the V&A Dundee shop

I’m all fired up and ready to start the week! What’s got your creative spark back or re-energised you this week?

- Mhairi